Milestones for an 18-Month-Old Child

Topic Overview

Children usually progress in a natural, predictable sequence from one developmental milestone to the next. But each child grows and gains skills at his or her own pace. Some children may be advanced in one area, such as language, but behind in another, such as sensory and motor development.

Milestones usually are categorized into five major areas: physical growth, cognitive development, emotional and social development, language development, and sensory and motor development.

Physical development

Most children by 18 months of age:

Gain weight and grow at a steady but slower pace than during their first 12 months of life. Between 12 and 24 months of age, expect your child to gain about 3 lb (1.4 kg) to 5 lb (2.3 kg), grow an average of 3 in. (7.6 cm) to 5 in. (12.7 cm), and gain about 1 in. (2.5 cm) in head circumference (the measurement around the top of the head).

Are starting to lose the "baby" look. Your child, who is now in fast motion much of the time, gradually adopts a leaner frame. Although your child's head is still large in proportion to the rest of his or her body, by 18 months of age, the face is not as "chubby." People may comment that he or she is starting to look like a "little boy" or a "little girl."

Do not nap as much in the morning or give up this nap time completely. But they still need to sleep about 13 to 14 hours in a 24-hour period.

Thinking and reasoning (cognitive development)

Most children by 18 months of age:

Have developed a sense of self, the ability to see themselves as separate from others. They can now imagine a threat and often cling to parents and become fearful of strangers.

Can usually find an object that they watch you move from one place to another. For example, you may hide a teddy bear under a blanket. After your child finds the teddy bear by removing the blanket, he or she will find it again after watching you move it under a pillow on the couch.

Starts to play pretend. Usually it will be one pretend act at a time, such as giving a stuffed animal a "drink" from a toy cup. (By 24 months, he or she may act out a whole process, such as getting "baby" ready for bed.)

Can point to a body part. For example, when you ask "where's your tummy?" your child will point to it.

Social and emotional development

Most children by 18 months of age:

Do not show much of an interest in playing with other children. But they engage in "parallel play." This is when children play next to or along side each other but don't interact. Adults are their main focus for social growth.

Are very curious. They like to grab and move almost anything within reach.

Like to show off for parents and caregivers. They may become happy when they do something they are especially proud of and look to parents for a reaction.

Like to copy what other people do. For example, your child may like to imitate you and stretch his or her arms up high when you play "so big!" He or she may try to make the same faces you do and copy something you say by jabbering with a similar tone of voice.

Language development

Most children by 18 months of age:

Understand 10 times more than they are able to put into words.

Know the names of some people, body parts, and objects. They can often point to an object in a book when asked.

Use their own language, sometimes called jargon, that is a mix of made-up words and understandable words.

Follow two-step commands, such as "Go get your teddy bear, and bring it here."

Social and motor development

Most children by 18 months of age:

Stand from a crawling position without holding onto anything.

Walk by themselves.

Hold a cup by themselves.

Can coordinate hand movement between the fingers and the wrist. This allows your child to eat with a spoon (although at this age, it is guaranteed to be messy).

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